POLICE MAKE SEVERAL ARRESTS IN DOWNTOWN DRUG SWEEP

A police sweep targeting crack cocaine traffic in the downtown area led to the arrest of several suspected dealers late Wednesday on Main, Center and Wadsworth streets.

The main target of the operation, 19-year-old Key "Kemo" Harris, was arrested about 8 p.m. at his 472 Main St. apartment, where police say undercover officers bought small amounts of crack from him five times in February and March.

Police said there were 14 adults and at least six children attending a birthday party at the house when it was raided by heavily armed members of the Tri-Town Narcotics Task Force, assisted by officers from East Hartford.

Chunks of crack, drug paraphernalia, razor blades and a bucket of urine were found in the house within reach of the children, police said.

Harris was arrested on five warrants charging him with sale of cocaine and other offenses, and was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail late Thursday after being arraigned in Manchester Superior Court.

Harris' live-in girlfriend, Wanda Wright, 32, fled the house as police arrived and is being sought on similar charges, police said.

Also arrested at the house was Lamont Bell, 23, of 36 Vine St., Hartford, who police said was found with about 20 small chunks of crack, worth about $400, in his pockets. He was being held late Thursday in lieu of $50,000 bail after his arraignment on four narcotics charges.

While one team of officers was searching the Main Street house, another squad used a battering ram to enter the 16 Wadsworth St. apartment of Alyssa Wright, 28, where police said she has been selling crack since she moved in about two months ago.

Wright told officers that she was selling drugs to pay bills and support her 8-year-old son, who was not home during the raid and whose whereabouts were unknown to her, police said. Wright was being held in lieu of $5,000 bail after her arraignment.